Seattle mourns victims of shooting

Interfaith service draws hundreds

SAM SKOLNIK AND ANGELO BRUSCA, Seattle Post-Intelligencer

By SAM SKOLNIK AND ANGELO BRUSCAS, P-I REPORTERS

Published 9:00 pm, Tuesday, March 28, 2006

Hundreds attend the Service of Hope at 2112 E. Republican St. Tuesday for the seven who died in Saturday's shootings. The Church Council of Greater Seattle organized the interfaith service.
Photo: Meryl Schenker/Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Hundreds attend the Service of Hope at 2112 E. Republican St....

After attending the Service of Hope, friends danced a tribute before someone yelled, "Group hug!"
Photo: Meryl Schenker/Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Pierced, colorfully attired young ravers joined preachers and politicians in a prayer service Tuesday that gave Seattle its first chance to collectively grieve for those killed in the Capitol Hill mass murder Saturday.

More than 500 people attended the service, held on the street and sidewalks in front of the small house on East Republican Street where Kyle Huff shot six people at an after-hours party before shooting himself in the head.

An array of ministers and priests, rabbis and Buddhists each tried to shed theological light on how random killings like these could have occurred.

No one could come up with a persuasive answer.

"The world is awash in bad rationalizations for suffering," said Rabbi Anson Laytner of the American Jewish Committee. "I don't accept that God had anything to do with it. There is no rhyme or reason to this."

Those looking for a reason Huff committed such a senseless act were left without answers, but all who spoke said the city had no intention of blaming the rave scene or electronic music for the tragedy.

"This was a premeditated act," Nickels said. "This was someone who at some point decided he was going to kill a lot of people.

"We don't know why he picked these particular victims. We do know that this incident was not caused by music, a particular type of music."

The mourners at the vigil overflowed the street, crowding onto higher-ground vantage points to see what was happening.

The most dramatic moment of the service occurred when Zen Buddhist Abbot Genjo Marinello read each name, slowly, of the shooting victims after reciting a Buddhist chant.

After each name was read, some in the crowd sniffled, others cried openly. "No!" yelled one young woman after one name was read.

The sidewalk near the house has become an impromptu memorial site. Dozens of bouquets of flowers lined the pavement, crowded next to photos, candles, balloons, personal messages and other remembrances that included teddy bears and a box of Nutter Butter cookies.

The young people in attendance -- at least half the crowd -- barely contained their grief as the service ended. Some embraced. Others huddled in small groups and shared stories about the victims -- Jeremy Martin, Melissa Moore, Justin Schwartz, Suzanne Thorne, Jason Travers and Christopher Williamson -- laughing and tearing up at the same time.

Becca Bouslaugh of Northgate attended the rave Friday night but decided at the last minute to skip the after-party because she was working Saturday. She said she knew, or at least had seen, each of the victims. "We call ourselves family, because everyone looks out for each other," said Bouslaugh, 17. "A big part of my family is gone."

In the end, before everyone finally dispersed, still more people decided to honor their friends by doing what they love to do: dance with each other to electronic beats. A sound system was set up on 23rd Avenue East.

"We love you!" they chanted loudly as they danced. "We love you!"

At the meeting, where the crowd spilled out into the Miller Park center, Nickels said he was informed of the shooting shortly before 8 a.m. on Saturday morning, noting it had been 23 years since the city has witnessed such "gun violence."

"This hits very close to home for all of us in the city," Nickels said.

The mayor and the crowd paid tribute to police Officer Steve Leonard, the first officer on the scene who confronted Huff just before the shooter took his own life. Leonard was in attendance and was given two lengthy ovations.

"He was actually close enough that he heard the shots," Nickels said. "... By the time the first calls were coming in, he was already at 19th and Republican. The officer confronted this individual, and I believe he stopped other killings from happening with his willingness to put his safety on the line."

Many in attendance questioned why police and the city couldn't do more to tighten gun laws. They were urged by Nickels and others to fight pending legislation in Congress that would make it harder to trace gun ownership.

"As a society we have to come to grips with the infatuation we have with guns," Nickels said. "In this city, we have far too many people who are hurt. ... perhaps out of this tragedy, we as a community will come together and we will find common ground."